Outlook Reporting 23 hours ago

The question is this: will the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board support a proposal that calls for spending at least $10.3 millionon capital improvements at Stony Point Center over the next decade? Also part of the proposal: Spend $300,000 over the next three years for additional staffing for Stony Point, and another $75,000 in a capital campaign feasibility study. The answer to how much support there is for the plan likely will come to light when the board votes on the first part of the proposal at its meeting Sept. 26-28… continue reading...

Commentary 2 days ago

Guest commentary by William McConnell About two years ago, I went to the dark side. I succumbed to the temptation to be one of the “cool” Presbyterians. (Is that an oxymoron? I think not). It was predestined to be. I started wearing – wait for it – bowties!The denomination’s stated clerk wears them regularly. There is even a day at General Assembly where everyone on the platform wears a bow tie in honor of the late Bill Forbes, who for 35 years was platform manager for the assembly. So,… continue reading...

Looking into the lectionary 2 days ago

Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10 Ordinary 24C; Proper 19 Oh Jeremiah, you are in touch with God’s anger like seemingly no other! Jill Duffield’s lectionary reflections are sent to the Outlook’s email list every Monday. This week we get the word that we are stupid children, skilled at doing evil. As a result, God will rightfully bring desolation to the whole land, no relenting, no turning back. Is this a word we are willing to share? The only bit of relief comes with this short sentence, “Yet,… continue reading...

Ministering with the Earthby The Presbyterian Outlook January 1, 1998Book Reviews113 viewsBy Mary Elizabeth MooreChalice. 1998. 226 pp. Pb. $19.99. ISBN 0-8272-2323-4 Ministering with the Earth is a quiltwork, both the on-the-ground activity and Moore's book about so ministering. Moore, professor of theology and Christian education at Claremont School of Theology, is fond of the metaphor, suitably pastoral and feminist.

Remembered Voice: Reclaiming the Legacy of 'Neo-Orthodoxy'by The Presbyterian Outlook January 1, 1998Book Reviews107 viewsBy Douglas John HallWJKP. 1998. 145 pp. Pb. $18. ISBN 0-664-25772-0 It was in this order. I first read Tillich's Dynamics of Faith. Riveting. Next came The Courage to Be. Gripping. Then I went back and read the first volume of the Systematic Theology. Things began to make sense. Next came Biblical Religion and the Search for Ultimate Reality. Positive.

Prayer for the Bahamasby Jill Duffield September 4, 2019Editor's viewpoints1 commentLord of all creation, we lament the devastation in the Bahamas and grieve with those still in shock at the level of loss brought by Hurricane Dorian.
We know the images of destruction, flooding and human suffering – painful as they are – do not adequately tell the story of the trauma endured and the demands of the recovery yet to come.
Surround the Bahamian people with a sure sense of your presence. Strengthen leaders and first responders; grant them wisdom and tenacity. Gather together resources from multitudes and multiply them until all who need help are reached and given comfort.
Make sure, Lord ...

Getting the hang of continuing educationby Rebecca Gresham-Kesner August 28, 2019Outpost Blog1 commentEach year as I plan my continuing education, I look for diverse opportunities to learn and grow as a pastor. I have spent time at national events, on seminary campuses and in remote camps.
I love to learn, so it is tempting to pack two weeks full of content that will stretch me. I learned early on that this is not always the best use of my time. I am an introvert — so as much as I love structured events, they wear me out quickly. I try to take a couple days each year to go on a retreat to reenergize and renew my own faith. I have done loosely structured pastor’s retreats, silent retreats and low-key larger...

90-minute Presbyterian Outlook webinar
Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (with on-demand video replay available after the live event)
Presented by Carolyn B. Helsel
If you are in one of the many predominantly-white Presbyterian congregations across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), chances are that racism isn’t a topic that gets addressed from the pulpit unless there’s a major news event of a hate crime. Many people avoid talking about racism for a number of reasons: worry that they will say the wrong thing, the belief that avoiding the subject will make race less significant or the fear of creating conflict in the church.
As a white preacher and professor of preaching, Carolyn Helsel has written two books to help churches begin these conversations, and people of different races have commented on how her books have helped them engage in deeper conversations with one another on racism. During this webinar, she will help congregations start having meaningful … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE (PNS) — On behalf of Presbyterian Mission Agency, during its latest grant cycle the Mission Development Resources Committee (MDRC) recently approved 19 Mission Program Grants to worshiping communities.
Thirteen $7,500 seed grants were awarded to help a diverse number of 1001 New Worshiping Communities get started in various presbyteries across the country. In addition, two existing worshiping communities will receive $25,000 investment grants to help them live into their mission and ministry. Four will receive $25,000 growth grants as they work toward becoming viable Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) communities.
The worshiping community grant recipients are listed below, followed by their presbytery and synod:
Seed Grants
Agape is Love (Minnesota Valleys, Lakes and Prairies) provides spiritual guidance and faith formation to the LGBTQ+ community in Marshall, Minnesota and the surrounding area.
AthleteLife/Vida Atletica (Riverside, Southern California & … [Read more...]

(RNS) — Jarrid Wilson, a California church leader, author and mental health advocate, died by suicide Monday evening (Sept. 9) at age 30.
Wilson, known as a passionate preacher, most recently was an associate pastor at megachurch Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California. A co-founder of the mental health nonprofit Anthem of Hope, Wilson was open about his own depression, often posting on his social media accounts about his battles with the mental illness.
“At a time like this, there are just no words,” said Harvest Senior Pastor Greg Laurie in a statement.
“Sometimes people may think that as pastors or spiritual leaders we are somehow above the pain and struggles of everyday people. We are the ones who are supposed to have all the answers. But we do not,” Laurie said.“At the end of the day, pastors are just people who need to reach out to God for His help and strength, each and every day,” he added.His wife, Julianne Wilson, posted a photo tribute of her … [Read more...]

A natural occurrence in the business world, mergers also happen with some regularity in faith communities. When two organizations – be they banks, nonprofits or congregations – find their relationship evolving into ever more cooperative processes, merging becomes a natural option. Sadly, this rarely happens amicably. After all, popular jargon connotes negative circumstances around mergers with phrases like “hostile takeover” or “absorption.”
Perhaps you serve as an executive of a nonprofit organization or as a ruling elder or pastor of a congregation that is considering a merger. The situation is likely replete with emotion. Shared histories, culture and supervisory infrastructure are possibly at odds. But your circumstance is not without precedent.
I am pleased to share the story of one merger that, while it presented unique challenges, has proven to be a unanimous success in the eyes of all stakeholders. As of January 1, 2018, Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE — In the wake of recent shootings in Gilroy, Calif., in the Texas communities of El Paso and Odessa and in Dayton, Ohio, and with the advent of the Season of Peace, the Compassion, Peace & Justice Ministryprograms of the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) are providing congregations and mid-councils a robust package of resources to help congregations put thoughts and prayers about gun violence into obedient action.
The resources are being mailed this week, so congregations can expect their packet to arrive by the end of the week.
In a letter accompanying the resources, The Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, and The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, express their gratitude to previous General Assemblies for the wisdom and faithfulness that helped create the programs and initiatives, which enable the church to help “overcome evil with good.”
The package contains nine … [Read more...]

(RNS) — Lieryn Barnett sometimes is so depressed, all she wants to do is sleep, she said.
Other times, she’s so full of energy, she’ll be up in the middle of the night, singing or playing guitar. Or her mind will race at the same time her body won’t have the energy to do anything.
All are symptoms of the bipolar disorder Barnett was diagnosed with when she was an adolescent.
Medication and therapy have helped her deal with the condition, the 29-year-old said.
So has her faith.
“Christ gives your life value, purpose, hope, and eternal security. Without that hope I probably would not be here today,” said Barnett, a member of Two Cities Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., who has written about her experiences with bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety.
A new study by the Christian research firm Barna Group suggests that Barnett may not be alone in her anxiety — or in finding that faith can be an asset when dealing with mental health concerns.
“The church and … [Read more...]

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(RNS) — When reading Christian children’s books with his three children, Matthew Paul Turner found himself having to think on the fly.
Turner would do “a quick little change of the words” when he would run into a …

(PNS) Mere moments after the final credits of “Flint: The Poisoning of an American City” rolled, Harold Woodson was on stage of the Capitol Theatre Thursday giving the documentary an endorsement that affirmed it had …

(OGA) Anyone who runs meetings at the scale of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) understands the challenges that come with the job. The Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the …

FLINT, Michigan — There is a point in “Flint: The Poisoning of an American City” where we have seen and heard how the Michigan city’s water system was contaminated with lead and the many ways in which public …

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (RNS) — Perched on his mat in the back corner of the room, Adam Park performed a series of yoga poses just like the others: Downward-facing dog, Warrior 1, Child’s pose.
Unlike the others, the adjunct …

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Outlook Horizons Studies 3 days ago

Love Carved in Stone: A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments Lesson 2: “Words of Love: Don’t Trivialize My Name” Exodus 20:7; Matthew 7:21-23 As a child, I looked up the meaning of my name, and the name book said: “Like a beautiful rose; an ancient deep-sea monster”! “Rosalind” is Germanic in origin and combines words for horse, “(h)ros,” and “linti,” which means “soft, gentle, tender, weak.” Thus, the original meaning is a docile horse. Hmm, this doesn’t quite fit me. Knowing the ancient meaning of my name really doesn’t tell you much…

Editor's viewpoints 6 days ago

Becca brings a myriad of talents to her service on the board. She is not only gifted with words, she is skilled with spreadsheets and numbers. Becca listens intently with the ability to tune out the noise, hear the signal and speak with clarity, truth and grace. She is able to put vision into action collaboratively and with great passion and care. Becca is co-pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Herndon, Virginia, where she has served for 13 years. There, she was part of the team that planted a congregation…

Outlook Reporting 1 week ago

A group within the Presbyterian Mission Agency considering the future of Stony Point Center is recommending spending at least $10.3 million on capital improvements at Stony Point over the next decade, plus $300,000 over the next three years in additional staffing and another $75,000 in a capital campaign feasibility study. The future of the Stony Point – a conference center just north of New York City – has been an enduring question for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in recent years, as Stony Point has not been financially self-sustaining and has…

Book Reviews 1 week ago

David Zahl Fortress Press, 250 pages Reviewed by Rachel Landers Vaagenes Seculosity is a made-up word that aptly articulates a current unspoken truth: even though people are leaving capital-R religion in droves, there are many other systems of belief waiting to fill the gaps. These small-r religions, what David Zahl calls seculosity, are “a catchall for religiosity that is directed horizontally rather than vertically, at earthly rather than at heavenly objects.” The theological word for this is of course “idolatry,” but Zahl cleverly introduces ancient concepts with new words devoid…